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Winter Wonderland Family Adventure To Lake Tahoe

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Last week we took a ski vacation up to Lake Tahoe with our friends from Kia who hosted the trip. This was our family’s first ski trip and it definitely won’t be our last. Pete and I still can’t believe it took us so long to take the girls skiing, and as expected, they LOVED it. Especially Emmy. We still haven’t found a sport she doesn’t excel at. She’s just a natural! The whole trip was amazing, and it was made extra special because we got to spend some time with friends that live far away while celebrating a brand that Pete and I truly love, Kia. 

I’ve written about Kia many times in the past and each time I am around the family of Kia vehicles I am left wondering how they can possibly outdo themselves and then they do. Seriously, this brand just keeps getting better and better. Pete, who drives a luxury sedan at home was completely ready to buy a Sorento after our trip, and you all know I have my eye on a Sedona. I would never have thought I would say that 10 years ago, but Kia has come a long way and we would love to be a complete Kia Family. They are the best of the best. Affordable, loaded with tech, easy to drive, and luxurious. After driving one in the snow and on slick roads I can honestly say I have never felt as secure and safe in a car as I did in the Kia Sorento. Enough gushing about Kia, let’s talk about Lake Tahoe and our Kia Sorento Family Adventure!

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We flew out from San Diego on a 7:15 am flight which meant that we would land around 9 am in Reno. I love catching the first flights out because that means more time for exploring.

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After we got off the plane, we were greeted with a sparkling new 2017 Kia Sorento. This beauty would be our car for the entire time we were in Tahoe and Kia even had it stocked with drinks, snacks, and a soft blanket to keep the girls warm as we drove up the mountain. The thing that I always say about Kia is that they as a company and their vehicles, all focus on the attention to detail and they think of everything. PS. look at that roof! Once we got onto the mountain I just sat back and stared out of it and up to the trees that were sprinkled with snow. It was paradise.

Kia Sorento

Since we landed so early in the day, we were able to really take a leisurely drive up the mountain. We even stopped to play in the snow and take some pictures. The day was so bright with rich blue skies. It was still cool out, but not that bone-chilling cold you think of when there is snow. I just kept thinking how lucky we were to have this time together and to do something we have wanted to do for years. The girls were pretty much beside themselves with excitement thinking about everything we were going to do. Plus the weather called for snow while we are there and they had never seen snow fall. We were gearing up for a lot of family firsts!

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As we grew closer to the resort we were staying at, we rounded a corner and this was our view. We pulled over to take it all in. It is amazing how connected to the world you can feel when you are surrounded by such beauty. 

Lake Tahoe

I had to hold my breath as I climbed up to have this picture taken, not because it was on a steep cliff, but because the sheer magnitude of the lake below left me breathless!

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We carried on our journey not really believing it could get any better than this, but it did, of course, it did. 

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When you think of a chalet tucked into the side of a snow-capped mounting, that is where we stayed. The area had so much snow that it looked like we were in a picture perfect snow globe or one of those Hallmark movies- sans the drama of course. 

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We were told there were 28 feet of snow on the ground and I believed them. It made for perfect snowball fights, snow angels and of course multiple snowmen!

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This is Steve, the most notable of all Snowmen. I have no idea why his name is Steve but when Pete asked Emmy what we should name him she said: “well his name is Steve, so I don’t think we really need to name him”.  Steve was a cool guy (pun intended) and we checked in on him throughout our stay. Other people looked after him too and on our last day we found him wearing a scarf. 

After playing in the snow we met up with everyone for dinner and some fun. Because it was Pete’s birthday, they even had a birthday cake for him! This was just another example of how Kia thinks of everything!

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As luck would have it, or not, poor Ashley came down with a virus that first night and we ended up having to take her to the emergency room late that night. I was a nervous wreck about the whole thing. Being far from home with a sick kid isn’t fun and I was concerned about having to drive in the dark on icy roads. This is just about the point when I completely fell head over heals in love with “our” Kia. We had such a smooth ride to and from the hospital in the Sorento. I had nothing to worry about. 

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Ashley stayed in the hotel for the majority of this trip, but as she put it, if you are going to get sick this is the place to do it. She just opened the curtains and enjoyed the view. 

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I stayed at the hotel with Ash while Pete, Maddie, and Em went snowmobiling the next day. I had been looking forward to this ever since I heard we were going to do it. 

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They road up to this lookout point. Maddie said it was something she will never forget. Emmy asked if we could buy a snowmobile. I’d say they enjoyed the experience!

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Here is our day 1 video:

Here is our day 2 video:

If you can believe it, this was just the beginning of our adventure in Tahoe with Kia. Up next is skiing, tubing, dessert making, and so much more! I’ll be back soon with the rest of our vacation.

Have you ever been to Lake Tahoe?

Heather Reese
the authorHeather Reese
Heather Delaney Reese is the storyteller and photographer behind the lifestyle and family travel blog, It's a Lovely Life®! For the past decade, she has vacationed over 150 days a year with her family. She is a vegan, and loves being by the water, spending time with her children, husband, 2 Shih Tzus and Cat.

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